Another Look at Leadership
March 21, 2009
Many people think of leadership as an appointed role. It is true that we need clarity regarding organizational and institutional roles and responsibilities. Where “the buck stops” and who is in charge needs to be concisely evident. But the action of leading — living above the line, seeing new possibilities, encouraging and supporting, harnessing the winds of change, and overcoming helplessness with hopefulness — is something that is shared by each person regardless of his or her formal role or position. You see, leadership must not only be a noun; it must also be a verb. True leadership is defined by what we do, not the position we hold. Leaders do not wait, they initiate. We see this attitude in the great governor Nehemiah (Neh. 2:4-5). However, we also see it in an unnamed Samaritan woman (Jn. 4:28-29). What does this tell us? Simply that we all have a part to play in moving everyone toward better performance and results. “I/we are going to do something” is the language of success. “Something must be done” is the language of failure. What does this all mean to us here at 813 West Broad Street? Jesus said that his people were to impact the world in which we live (Matt. 5:16). This means that every member of the West Broad Church of Christ is a leader because we are leading people to the word and way of Christ. How? We are leading by our conversation. We are leading as we engage our neighbors. Finally, we are leading by the presence we have in our communities. What can we say, friends? Only that this article presents an idea of what leadership involves. But how involved are you in leadership? Please think about it! –JLNJR (Resource: “Practical Leadership,” Internet Froward, 3/16/09).
